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ED CORRIGANS BIG COUP How Late "Master of Hawthorne" Hit "Ring Hard When His Filly, Lute, Won. The late Edward Corrigan, "master of Hawthorne," in his day owned many a good race horse, and the vast majority he ruined long before their racing days should have been over by his rigorous system of training. Modesty placed to his credit the first American Derby ever run. His other classy racers could be counted by the dozens. He brought with him from England performers which raced with marked distinction in this country. While never in the class of spectacular plungers like the late John W. Gates or John A. Drake, with whom he pulled off many a coup, Corrigan was a big bettor. When Gates or Drake made a killing tho whole world knew of it. When Corrigan won thousands only those who were connected wtih him knew anything of it. Perhaps the largest amount he ever won in one single race was over the victory of his filly, Lute, at Washington Park. There was hardly a book in the ring that didnt have 100 to 1 chalked up against her chances when Corrigan started sending in his money. The field was big, with several strongly fancied choices. There were nearly one hundred knights of the chalk doing business, and the Corrigan money, not known to be Corri-gans, however, fairly flooded the ring before any out-of-the-ordinary movement on Lute was noticed. She finally went to the post at 4 to 1, with the whole ring wondering. Lute won the race, but only after overcoming a world of interference and ran a race magnificent in its gameness, which brought her to the front in the closing strides. In actual figures what Corrigan won over Lutes victory no one but himself ever knew. Not a few of the shrewdest in the ring credited him with depleting the bookmakers bank rolls to the extent of fully a quarter of a million dollars.
